Chapter 291

Isabella didn't bother saying goodbye to Alexander when she left the hospital.

The man had left her with an unfinished story, but her pride wouldn't let her ask for more. Even though curiosity gnawed at her, she'd rather uncover the truth herself than beg for answers from him.

After three years of humiliation, she, the heiress of the Sinclair family, had sworn to never lower her head again.

On her way home, her phone buzzed—Olivia was calling.

"Miss Isabella, I tried digging into Alexander's past but found nothing suspicious. However, when I looked into Mr. Nathaniel's personal affairs, I stumbled upon something... odd."

"Alexander is now the CEO of Kingsley Enterprises. His personal files are classified, accessible only to a select few." Isabella smiled faintly. "Smart move, Olivia. Indirect routes can be more revealing."

Olivia chuckled, pleased with the praise. "Mr. Nathaniel was kidnapped when he was eleven."

"Kidnapped?"

"Yes. But there's no trace of it online. The Kingsleys made sure to bury that information. If you really want details, I could ask my father. He was a judge at the Elmsworth Court back then—he might know something."

"No need. You've done enough."

Isabella hung up, her mind racing. She knew Olivia's family situation was complicated and didn't want to drag them into this. But now that she had a lead, she knew exactly where to go next.

As her La Voiture Noire pulled up to the mansion, the headlights illuminated a tall, striking figure standing at the entrance.

Her breath caught.

Alexander.

He turned toward her, his eyes glinting under the bright lights. Straightening his posture, he offered her a warm smile—one that once made her heart race.

She had to admit, Alexander had a devastating smile.

The kind she'd once dreamed of, the one she'd desperately craved.

For three years, she'd bent over backward to earn his affection—lavish gifts, learning his favorite recipes—all for a glimpse of that smile. But it had been futile.

Now, here he was, smiling at her freely, even claiming to like her.

But could his affection ever fill the void he'd left in her heart?

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and approached him.

"Isabella."

"What? Here to rob me?" Her tone was sharp, devoid of warmth.

"I wanted to talk at the hospital, but you left in a hurry." He ignored her coldness, his voice soft.

"If not for Evelyn, we'd never have crossed paths. There's nothing left to say."

She turned toward the mansion. "I'll send someone with the next round of medication in a few days. Take it regularly if you want to live longer."

"Isabella, wait!" He reached for her.

She paused, glancing back. "Oh, and tell Daniel I know he has feelings for Evelyn. But I don’t approve of them being together."

Alexander stiffened, his brows furrowing.

"I know—I’m no longer her sister-in-law. Just an outsider now. But I’ve decided to interfere anyway."

Her voice was icy. "In the Kingsley family, only your grandfather has any real control over Evelyn. But he’s old and frail. Her parents are useless. And you? Her brother? You’ve proven utterly worthless. You were never there when she needed you. You don’t care."

Each word was a bullet to his chest. His fists clenched.

"So from now on, Evelyn is my sister. My family."

Her resolve was unshakable. "I will never allow her to be with Daniel. And I will stop him from pursuing her."

"Why not?" Alexander stepped forward, his gaze burning.

She mistook his intensity for defiance. "Why not? Alexander, do you even have a heart? Or do you think because Evelyn isn’t your blood sister, you can sacrifice her for your friend’s desires?"

His lips trembled with suppressed anger.

He wasn’t angry at her. He understood her protectiveness, her fierce love for Evelyn.

But he couldn’t let her misunderstand him—or belittle his only friend.

"Daniel genuinely cares for Evelyn. You saw it today. She relies on him. She wants to be with him."

"Dependency isn’t love. Evelyn has autism. She barely attended school, had no social life. How could she possibly understand romantic feelings?"

Her frustration echoed into the night.

"Daniel will treat her right. Just give them a chance." His voice was almost pleading.

"First, let’s not forget Daniel’s extensive dating history. His list of exes could fill a phone book. Even playboys settle down, but Evelyn isn’t the woman to gamble on that possibility."

"Second, do you honestly think the Fairhaven family is the right environment for her?"

Alexander faltered.

They rarely discussed Daniel’s family—a topic Daniel avoided like the plague.

Alexander had never pried, not wanting to reopen old wounds.

"Mrs. Fairhaven is traditional. Her husband died young, leaving her only Daniel. She’s pinned all her hopes on him. She can’t even stand Glynnis—how would she ever accept Evelyn? Daniel’s a devoted son. Do you think he’d defy his mother for her?"

"Then there’s Edith—scheming, manipulative. She’s always used Glynnis as a pawn. She despises Elspeth’s daughter. You think she’d treat Evelyn any better?"

"If Evelyn marries into that family, she’ll be trapped in endless drama, power struggles, petty fights. Even if Daniel loves her, love withers under that toxicity. Evelyn is innocent. How could she possibly survive?"

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

In that moment, under the moonlight, she looked ethereal—like an angel carved from ice.

Alexander’s chest tightened with guilt, regret, remorse.

She wasn’t just talking about Evelyn.

She was voicing her own pain—the years of loneliness, the sacrifices she’d made, the love she’d begged for but never received.

This wasn’t about letting go.

It was about swallowing the bitterness and enduring the heartache.

Isabella had said her piece. If he still refused to see reason, she’d take matters into her own hands.

As she turned to leave, Alexander’s control snapped.

He pulled her into his arms.

Her breath hitched, her pulse erratic.

"I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I didn’t consider your feelings. I won’t bring it up again—I promise."

His arm locked around her waist, pulling her flush against him. His other hand cradled her shoulder, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to merge her into his very being.

She stiffened, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine.

"Let go, Alexander." Her protest came out as a whisper.

"No."

He nuzzled his jaw against her neck. "Isabella, I’ve never been greedy—but with you, I’m insatiable. Holding you, I never want to let go. Kissing you will never be enough."

His words were simple, yet they unraveled her.

Under the moonlight, their silhouettes melded together—two striking figures bound by a love as fierce as it was fractured.

"Isabella."

A voice, gentle yet chilling, cut through the night.